Reflective radiant conditioning system for human comfort



Feb. 11, 19-64 c, MlLLs I 3,120,866

REFLECTIVE RADIANT CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR HUMAN COMFORT Filed Aug. 11,1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l I w L\ M s S 11 F IG. 2.

CLARENCE A. M/LLS,

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 11, 1964 c. A. MILLS 3, 2

REFLECTIVE RADIANT CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR HUMAN COMFORT Filed Aug. 11.1960 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 11, 1964 I c. 'A. MlLLS 3,120,866

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(memes A. MILLS United States Patent 3,129,866 REFLECTIVE RADKANTCONDETIONHQG SYSTEM HUMAN C ZEMFGRT Clarence A. Mills, Cincinnati, his,assignor to Reflectotherrn, Inn, Cincinnati, Ghio, a corporation of OhioFiled Aug. 11, 196i), Ser. No. 48,893 4 Claims. (Cl. 16522) Thatenvironmental temperatures and ease of body heat loss exert a dominanteffect over human comfort and many body functions has been wellestablished. This matter is well co *ered in my book Climate Makes theMan, published in 1942 by Harpers of New York City, and in my reviewarticle, Temperature Dominance Over Human Life, published in Science,Sept. 16, 1949, vol. 110, pp. 267-271.

During these three decades of research on temperature dominance Ideveloped a keen interest also in indoor climate control over body heatloss through radiant heat transfer channels rather than through the moreconventional air transport of heat to or from the body and occupiedspaces. My first article on these studies, Control of Body Heat LossThrough Radiant Means, was published in the journal section of Heating,Piping and Air Conditioning, pp. 6979, November 1937, and this articlehas been followed by many others as the studies progressed through theyears. An application for Letters Patent was filed December 2, 1950(Ser. No. 198,- 805) and Letters Patent No. 2,651,503 were grantedthereon September 8, 1953, under the title System of Radiant HeatExchanging.

My studies in radiant heat transfer also spread over into the radiantheating and cooling of industrial products, giving rise to several moreapplications for Letters Patent and a new concept of radiant hearttransfer in the infrared range of wavelengths. This new concept was bestelucidated in a printed brochure entitled Application of QuantumMechanics to the Radiant Heating and Cooling of Products and People.This brochure covers essentially the material formally presented onApril 15, 1959, before the Baltimore Chapter of the American Society ofHeating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, before the Baltimore Chapter ofthe American Society of Mechanical Engineers on January 25, 1960,

and at the US. Naval Academy at Annapolis on March 4, l960, and which isto appear in print soon as a section of volume ill of Medical Physicspublished by Year Book Publishers, inc, Chicago.

What I shall now described, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is anew and improved system of reflective radiant conditioning for humancomfort. The first complete installation of this system has nowundergone successful operational testing through both severe surrrnermoist heat and sub-zero winter cold in a residence located in Munster,Indiana.

My new system comprises certain features covered in my Letters PatentNo. 2,651,563 as follows:

(1) Infrared reflective, decorative foil wall coverings.

(2) Aluminized, infrared reflective window drapery materials (althoughnow aluminized only on the outward facing surfaces).

(3) Pressurizing ventilation of the conditioned structure, withelectrostatic cleansing of all incoming air and no air recirculation.

(4) A single fluid line connecting in-the-room radiant heat transferelements with the systems liquid-heating and liquid-cooling devices.

This new system comprises in addition the following new features:

(1) Plate coils (Revere Tube-in-Strip type), ceiling suspended in amanner similar to ornamental valences, positioned out from the sidewalls sufiiciently to allow 3,120,866 Patented Feb. 11, 1964 for radiantheat transfer from the back as well as front surfaces, coated with adull-coat or matt-finish moistureproof paint, and having small driptroughs attached to their lower edges by insulating connections so as toprevent summer chilling of the troughs and moisture condensation ontheir outer surfaces. These plate coils replace the cove structuresdescribed in the above numbered Letters Patent No. 2,651,503.

(2) A brine coil through which incoming pressurizing air must pass forits pro-warming in winter or cooling and dehumidification in summer.

(3) Control devices (humidistat and summer-winter thermostat in occupiedarea, thermostat with its sensing element in air supply duct,thermostats for boiler and liquid chiller, flow valves, mixing valvesand circulating pumps) for fluid lines as indicated in FIGURE 1, FIG-URE 7 and FIGURE 8.

(4) Fluid pressure and storage tank from which circulating pumps draw asneeded to satisfy the control devices for the air inlet brine coil andthe in-the-room plate coils.

This is essentially a split system, with two separate brine circulatinglines drawing from a common hot or cold liquid source. Circulation tothe brine coil in the air inlet duct during the moist heat of summer isunder control of a humidistat located in the occupied area, so that anydesired degree of humidity may be maintained in the occupied area. Whenno dehumidiiication of incoming air is cmled for, the positioning of themixing valve in the line to the air inlet coil is controlled by athermostat whose bulb is sensing duct air temperature downstream fromthe brine coil.

Circulation of brine to in-the-room plate coils is under the control ofa summer-winter thermostat located in the occupied area which positionsthe mixing valve in this supply line to draw in more or less of freshlyheated or chilled liquid to meet temperature demands of the thermostat.There may, if desired to meet different heating or cooling loadconditions or temperatures desired, be more than one brine supply lineto in-the-roorn plate coils located in different areas, each such brinesupply line having its own thermostat and mixing value to control brineflow.

Customarily the humidistat is set to maintain about 50% relativehumidity in the occupied areas during summer moist warmth, while thethermostat in the air supply duct is usually set to give a 60 F.incoming air temperature at all other times. Incoming air temperaturesbelow 60 F. during winter cold have been found to exert a chillingeffect on occupants as they move about in the conditioned areas.

The thermostat controlling the temperature of the fluid circulatingthrough the in-the-room plate coils is customarily set so as to give a73 F. reading on a stationary 1 ercury thermometer in the occupied areaduring winter conditioning and to give a 76 to 78 F. reading duringsummer conditioning. Adjustments up or down from these temperatures canreadily be made by changing the thermostat setting as desired.

Pressurizing ventilation of a structure with electrostatically cleansedair obviates the need for openable windows, window or door screens orweather stripping, and results in remarkable indoor cleanliness even inurban areas of severely polluted air. Infiltration of the struc turewith outdoor dust and dirty unconditioned air is sharply minimized.

Dehumidification of the incoming pressnrizing air stream, together withthe use of foil wall coverings on all outside walls and ceilings as avapor seal, prevents the ingress of outdoor summer humidity into thehumiditycontrolled occupied areas.

Use of infrared reflective window draperies makes 3 possible ahighdegree of control over radiant heat ingress through glassed areas insummer and radiant heat loss in winter; and, in association with lack ofwashing air currents across such glassed areas, it obviates the need forexpensive double glazin and makes possible the use of whole glass wallsif so desired.

Use of infrared reflective wall coverings and window draperies, inconjunction with the use of radiant channels for heat input or removaland the minimizing of air currents in the occupied areas, results inconditioning load reductions of about 50% for summercooling-dehumidification and about 40% for heating as compared toconventional air heating and cooling systems.

The above and other objects to be explained in the followingspecification are illustrated in the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a layout of plate coils and supply lines in theresidence referred to. 7

FIGURE 2 is a diagram of the supply and return headers to the platecoils in the living room.

FIGURE 3 is a diagram of the supply and return lines for plate coils inthe other rooms in the house.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of the ceiling suspension of plate coil anddrip trough spaced outwardly 6 inches from the side wall.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic layout of supply ducts and room outlets forconditioned air for humidity, ventilation and dirt control.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of the equipment and piping layout.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and control layout.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of the conditioning equipment for theair supply to the house.

Perhaps reference to the diagram in FIGURE 8 should first be made asthis indicates a preferred manner of introducing outside air into thehouse. The inlet from outside is indicated in the conduit A. The outsideair first passes through an electrostatic filter B which is ofconventional structure. At C I have shown a blower which maintains thevolume of air introduced into the house.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a diagram matic layout of supplyducts and room outlets. It should be remembered that my reflectiveradiant conditioning system is a split system. This means that while anadequate supply of air, controlled as to temperature and humidity by thefiow through the brine coil D in the air inlet duct, is maintainedwithin the rooms of the house, there is no return or recirculation ofthis air supply. it is maintained with enough pressure to exceed that ofthe air outside the house so that all leakage around windows and doorswill be from the inside to outside. This avoids any dust, dirt or highmoisture laden air getting into the inside of the house. At the sametime the temperature affecting people within the house is controlled notby the incoming current of air, but by the radiation from plate coils toroom materials or cooling by radiation from room materials to platecoils.

In FIG. 5 the walls of the house and the partitions between the roomsare indicated by shaded areas. Generally speaking, 1 indicates housewalls and 2, the single solid lines, indicate glass. At 3 is shown theduct conveying air coming up from the basement. The duct 3 feeds the airfrom the basement into a series of connecting conduits which have attheir ends air outlet diffusers 5 through which the air is passed to theliving room, the kitchen, the bathrooms and bedrooms. Each conduit hasan adjustment valve 6 by which the volume of air passing to a given roommay be controlled.

The radiating plate coils may be of compound type as shown in FIG. 2 orof single coil type as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The compound type has aliquid supply line 9 which may be either heated liquid or chilled liquidbrine. The brine may be a saline solution or it may be a water glycolmixture. The liquid passes through a series of reducing Ls lit) and thenmoves through the plate coils 11 from which it discharges throughanother series of reducing Us 12 being then returned to the chillingdevice or boiler through a pipe 13.

The more simple type of radiant reflecting devices is shown in FIGS. 3and 4. The brine pipe in this type is indicated at 14 and the tube instrip plate consists in the inlet tube 15 which is returned throughseveral elbows in and the tubes 16a, 1612 from which it connects to thereturn brine line 17. Drip troughs 5t are suspended from the plate coilsby means of the heat insulative pins 51. It will be understood that thepins 51 will be suitably spaced over the entire length of the platecoils.

In FIG. 1 different types of plate coils are suggested such as thatindicated at 13 in the living room, that indicated at 19 in the kitchen,and 20 in the bedrooms. Each plate coil as shown in FIG. 4 is suspendedfrom the ceiling a manner similar to an ornamental valence. The platecoils are so positioned out from the nearest side wall so that the infrared rays will be projected out from both surfaces of the plate coils.Since the nearest wall is coated with a reflective surface the rays willnot only project downward from the left side of the plate coil but alsofrom the right side so that there is a doubling up of the effect ofcooling or warming room occupants.

FIGURES 6 and 7 present schematic diagrams of the split system of brinecirculation contemplated by my invention, with the various componentsindicated in detail as installed in the Munster, Indiana, residence. Thesystem includes the brine heater unit 36, with its shut-off valve 36aand air-trol tank 32, and the brine chiller unit 31 with the shut-offvalve 31a. It will of course be understood that during the summercooling season, the valve 31a will be open, and the valve 39a will beclosed to isolate the heating unit 39; and during the winter heatingseason, the positions of these valves will be reversed. The brine flowsfrom the heater 3% or the chiller 31 through the conduits 3% and 31brespectively, both of which lead to the manual three-way valve 33, whichwill be open to the conduit 3% during the winter or heating season andto conduit 31b during the summer or cooling season. At 34 I have shown abrine pressure storage tank, which will prevent the circulating pumpsand from working against each other if they are of diiferent capacity.Lea ing from the tank 34- are the conduits 35 (which supplies brine tothe room plate coils 18, 19 and 20 and is one phase of the splitsystem), and 36 (which supplies the brine solution to the coil D in theair inlet duct which is the other phase of the split system). In theconduit 36 I provide a three-Way mixing valve 3-8, and a mixing valvemotor 37, which as shown in FIGURE 7 will be operatively connected tothe thermostat 8 in the air inlet duct, and to the humidistat bulb 7,also located in the air inlet duct. In general, the thermostat 8 willcontrol the flow of the brine in the coil D, and hence the temperatureof the air supply to the rooms at all times except when the humidistat 7is calling for dehumidification. The circulating pump to operates at alltimes that the systern is in use, continually circulating the liquidbrine through the conduit 41, the coil D, the return conduit 42, andthen back to either the heater unit 3t} or the chiller unit 31,depending on the setting of the valves Eda and 31a. It will also benoted that I provide a by-pass system 39, through which excess brine maybe by-passed to the return conduit 42.

In the conduit 35, I provide a three-way mixing valve 44, and a mixingvalve motor 43, similar to the valve and motor 37 and 38 in the conduit36. The motor 43 is operatively connected to the summer-winterthermostat located in the living area, and by controlling the brine flowcontrols the temperature in that area. The brine in this part of thesystem is circulated by the pump 46, through the conduit 47, to the roomplate coils li and 2 13, and

5 through the return conduit 48 to the heater unit or the chiller.Again, I provide a bypass system indicated at 45, through which excessbrine liquid from this part of the split system may be b y-passed fromthe room plate coils back to the return conduit 4%.

Thus it will be observed that in my system of indoor comfortconditioning, I have made provision for needed heat input or removalfrom occupied space through overhead radiant heat transfer plate coilsand I have also made provision for humidity, dirt, fume, and ventilationcontrol for such occupied space through the continuous introduction of apressurizing stream of filtered and conditioned outdoor air.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A system for comfort conditioning an area enclosed by a ceiling andside walls comprising (a) a [radiant heat exchange system, said systemcomprising a plate coil having a dull, matt finished coating disposed inthe area to be conditioned, drip troughs suspended through heatinsulative connections from the lower edge of said plate coil, saidplate coil being suspended from the ceiling of said area and positioneda short distance from a side wall to facilitate a maximum of direct andreflected heat transfer between both sides of said plate coil, anaqueous brine system circulating through said plate coil, means forheating and cooling said brine, and means for controlling the flow ofsaid brine through said plate coil whereby the temperature of said areato be conditioned is controlled, and (b) a pressurized, ventilating,non-recirculating air system, said air system comprising a ductcommunicating between said area to be conditioned and the outside air,means in said duct for conveying a supply of said outside air into saidarea to be conditioned, means in said duct for electrostaticallycleaning said supply of air, a brine coil in said duct, said aqueousbrine system circulating through said brine coil, and means forcontrolling the flow of said brine through said brine coil whereby thetemperature and humidity of said supply of outside air is controlled;said brine system circulating through said plate coil and through saidbrine coil, and said means for heating and cooling said brine comprisinga single split system including a boiler, a chiller, a three-way valve,said boiler and said chiller each being in communication with saidthree- Way valve, a brine storage tank in communication with saidthree-way valve, a first passageway from said tank communicating withsaid plate coil, a first circulating pump in said first passageway, asecond passageway leading from said tank, said second passageway beingin communication with said brine coil, a second circulating pump in saidsecond passageway, a return duct communicating at one end with both saidplate coil and said brine coil, and communicating at the other end withboth said boiler and said chiller, and valve means in said return ductadapted to selectively control the flow of said brine through saidboiler and said chiller.

2. The system claimed in claim 1 including means for maintaining saidsupply of outside air at a pressure which exceeds the outside airpressure.

3. The system claimed in claim 2 including infraredrefiective surfacingmaterials on said side walls.

4. The system claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for controlling theflow of the brine in said radiant heat exchange system comprises asummer-winter thermostat disposed in the area to be conditioned, a valvein said first passageway, and a valve motor for adjusting said valve,said valve motor being operatively connected to and actuated by saidsummerawinter thermostat, and wherein said means for controlling theflow of said brine in said pressurized air system comprises a thermostatin said duct, a hurnidistat in said duct, a valve in said secondpassageway, and a valve motor for adjusting said valve, said valve motorbeing operatively connected to and actuated by said humidistat and saidthermostat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,533,407 Skillman Dec. 12, 1950 2,651,508 Mills Sept. 8, 1953 2,739,792Blum Mar. 27, 1956 2,930,593 Blum Mar. 29, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 723,239Great Britain Feb. 2, 1955

1. A SYSTEM FOR COMFORT CONDITIONING AN AREA ENCLOSED BY A CEILING ANDSIDE WALLS COMPRISING (A) A RADIANT HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM, SAID SYSTEMCOMPRISING A PLATE COIL HAVING A DULL, MATT FINISHED COATING DISPOSED INTHE AREA TO BE CONDITIONED, DRIP TROUGHS SUSPENDED THROUGH HEATINSULATIVE CONNECTIONS FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID PLATE COIL, SAIDPLATE COIL BEING SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING OF SAID AREA AND POSITIONEDA SHORT DISTANCE FROM A SIDE WALL TO FACILITATE A MAXIMUM OF DIRECT ANDREFLECTED HEAT TRANSFER BETWEEN BOTH SIDES OF SAID PLATE COIL, ANAQUEOUS BRINE SYSTEM CIRCULATING THROUGH SAID PLATE COIL, MEANS FORHEATING AND COOLING SAID BRINE, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OFSAID BRINE THROUGH SAID PLATE COIL WHEREBY THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID AREATO BE CONDITIONED IS CONTROLLED, AND (B) A PRESSURIZED, VENTILATING,NON-RECIRCULATING AIR SYSTEM, SAID AIR SYSTEM COMPRISING A DUCTCOMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID AREA TO BE CONDITIONED AND THE OUTSIDE AIR,MEANS IN SAID DUCT FOR CONVEYING A SUPPLY OF SAID OUTSIDE AIR INTO SAIDAREA TO BE CONDITIONED, MEANS IN SAID DUCT FOR ELECTROSTATICALLYCLEANING SAID SUPPLY OF AIR, A BRINE COIL IN SAID DUCT, SAID AQUEOUSBRINE SYSTEM CIRCULATING THROUGH SAID BRINE COIL, AND MEANS FORCONTROLLING THE FLOW OF SAID